Port of Long Beach refuels its first LNG-powered container ship

When the Port of Long Beach welcomed Pasha Hawaii’s MV George III recently, it was the first time a container ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) refueled on the West Coast. That milestone is said to be an early step to improving air quality in the region thanks to how clean the ship’s LNG-powered engines are compared to those of a traditional cargo ship.

“Reducing ship emissions will have a significant and positive impact on the region’s air quality,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “We thank Pasha Hawaii for leading the way in green shipping at the Green Port.”

In fact, LNG-powered ships achieve a 99.9% reduction in diesel particulate matter and sulfur oxide emissions, 90% less nitrogen oxides and a 25% reduction in carbon dioxide compared to ships running on traditional fuels.

“This is another positive step toward the widespread adoption of alternative fuels in cargo shipping and using cleaner technology to do business at the Port,” said Harbor Commission President Sharon L. Weissman. “Pasha Hawaii shares our long-term commitment for growing sustainably and responsibly.”

Welcoming vessels like Pasha Hawaii’s LNG-fueled ship is said to be part of the Port of Long Beach’s ongoing commitment to fulfill the goals outlined in the historic Green Port Policy and San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan enacted more than 15 years ago. These actions have led to unprecedented reductions in emissions connected to goods movement as the Port continues to work toward a goal of deploying all zero-emissions cargo handling equipment by 2030 and zero-emissions drayage trucks by 2035.

“As we mark our 75th anniversary and welcome George III to Long Beach, we are proud to continue my family’s legacy of innovation and environmental stewardship, while recognizing our employees as our extended ‘ohana,’ ” said George Pasha IV, President and CEO, Pasha Hawaii. “We are also grateful for our partnership with the Port of Long Beach. Being able to fuel MV George III with natural gas at the Port reflects our shared vision of minimizing our environmental impact, while setting a new standard for ship building in the U.S.”

And there’s another LNG Pasha ship on the way – the Janet Marie will be the second of two “Ohana Class” container ships to join Pasha Hawaii’s fleet, in the fourth quarter of 2022, in service between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland.

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